Will Rahul Dravid continue to man the first slips position?

[carnish]

I am not denying that he has dropped some sitters in the last few months. But this man has taken 200 catches' date=' I am sure he will be prepared for the Aussie pitches with quick hands.[/quote'] he was also prepared for the english pitches and for pitches in india against westindies and newzealand last year...yet he dropped sitters... its about the reflexes...its not like RD doesnot know what needs to be done at first slip..its like eating cake for him...but if his reflexes have gone slow he wont be able to do a lot about that no matter how much he practices... he needs to see and anticipate the ball well in advance if he stands at first slip... one can be a little relaxed at 3rd slip, yes but at 1st and 2nd slip there's no room for complacency... these catches can win matches or cost matches... and biggest threat it can bring stupid struggling walking wickets into nightmares for our bowlers...

[G_B_]

If he does, It could be one of the biggest risk factors for us in the Aussie series. Hate to say this about the most prolific slip catcher in the history of the game, but its come to a point where the probability of Dravid hanging onto balls that come his way is has come to down to 50-50 these days. And that is only for the regulation ones. For those with even a semblance of difficulty, it is almost a certainty that he is not going to pouch it. The thing with his slip catching that has been rather alarming is that, even for the ones that he actually manages to hold on, it does not look smooth or under control. His feet are not in position (he seems to be going into this weird knee-on-ground position) and he is grabbing at the ball. With VVS, Sehwag, Virat and Sachin in the side, I would definitely have these 4 man the slip and gully cordon as the first choice.

+1 Dravid has been dropping quite a few recently.

[bihutoli]

We have so many so called slip specialists. Any other position and they will just be a waste of scenery.

[desiladka321]

I think that David is made for slip and slip is made for dravid. He will always be there only. He is not suited for other positions.

[SachDan]

That would be the worst SRT fanatic nightmare.

Ofc..you have any problems with that? :finger:

[SachDan]

No' date=' worst nightmare would be if people like you stop coming to this site. The frustration you show on this website is very nice to see.[/quote'] :cantstop:

[Lord]

Dravid has mainly struggled to take low catches.with Aus boune that wont be a problem hopefully:pray:

[pensionplan]

Ofc..you have any problems with that? :finger:

You do not me.

[Pagalpanti]

he has lost his reflexes completely kohli should be groomed at that position

But Kohli is better used as a close-in fielder or some positions where he could stop singles.

[yoda]

I am surprised RD hasn't asked to be taken out of the slips himself. He has clearly lost the edge there dropping more than he is holding onto.

[The Outsider]

The problem is that diminishing First Class cricket and it's priority has resulted in lack of quality slip fielders. First slip is the most important fielding position in test cricket, specially playing on pitches with carry and bounce. However, the likes of Raina, Yuvraj, Kaif etc. have all been tried in slips but were even worse than a declining Dravid. I am sure Kohli and/or Sharma will get a chance in the slips in the coming series and hopefully one of them would be able to prove himself and graduate to the first slip position, because Dravid has definitely been on the decline as a slip catcher. Too bad our cricketing structure has made sure that we don't get good slip fielders out of it anymore.

[ganeshran]

That would be the worst SRT fanatic nightmare.

Can you please quit derailing threads and baiting posts like these. Thanks,

[pensionplan]

Can you please quit derailing threads and baiting posts like these. Thanks' date='[/quote']Hey if you really read my response there carefully about Punter and think for a second was I offbase in suggesting that someone dropping RP and he getting a ton would be a nightmarish scenario for somes SRT hardcore fans/fanatics. Afterall how many times have we seen some of them rejoicing RP's dismissals and low scores in various threads and celebrating his so called demise. So I feel what I said in the context to be very appropriate to the thread.

[ganeshran]

Hey if you really read my response there carefully about Punter and think for a second was I offbase in suggesting that someone dropping RP and he getting a ton would be a nightmarish scenario for somes SRT hardcore fans/fanatics. Afterall how many times have we seen some of them rejoicing RP's dismissals and low scores in various threads and celebrating his so called demise. So I feel what I said in the context to be very appropriate to the thread.

No one was rejoicing Ponting's dismissal here and no one broached the topic of SRT. If you want to criticize any player - feel free to do so in a thread which is about him and not try to derail random threads.

[Ram]

The fact that we have Sachin - himself a very dodgy slipper - at first slip makes it all the more important that we dont have another suspect catcher in the cordon. Just look at the slip cordon that some of the other countries boast - Taylor, Guptill for NZ, Smith, AB D for the Saffies, Clarke and Punter for the Aussies, Strauss and Swann for the Poms... Ours looks pedestrian compared to that. Historically, we are at our best when our slip catching is above average. We cannot say the same thing about it right now. My first choice slip cordon will be - Sach at 1st, VVS at 2nd, Kohli at 3rd and Viru at gully. The problem the Indian team management is facing could be that how do you tell a veteran of 150 tests and all-time most prolific slip catcher in the history of the game that he needs to vacate his spot? Rahul - if you read icf and if you're reading this - Please do us all a favor and excuse yourself.

[G_B_]

Laxman is getting pretty bad as well.

[The Outsider]

^ Tendulkar at first slip is a very poor choice. He is a very good second/third slip fielder, but first slip requires much more. I would put Laxman at first, Dravid at second, and Tendulkar at third. Yeah, I know Laxman is also not in his prime and has spilled a few catches of his own, but he is technically superior to Tendulkar and the chances that he has spilled have usually been the 50-50 ones rather than straightforward dollies. I feel Dravid is still good enough to be at second slip - most of his spills have been due to a lack of reaction rather than anticipation. But I won't be averse to having Kohli there either to prepare someone for the future.

[Cricket Tragic]

Sachin used to be an excellent slip fielder (even with his unique stance) but I wouldn't put him there again. If you look at his fingers, they're absolutely battered. It's also time to groom some young chap for the future. I'd have Kohli at slip. He fields there in ODIs - especially to the spinners - and has looked pretty safe. Laxman can stay at 2nd and Sehwag at 3rd. That means we will lose out on a quick mover in the outfield but we have to accept that with our side.

[Cricket Tragic]

^ Tendulkar at first slip is a very poor choice. He is a very good second/third slip fielder, but first slip requires much more. I would put Laxman at first, Dravid at second, and Tendulkar at third. Yeah, I know Laxman is also not in his prime and has spilled a few catches of his own, but he is technically superior to Tendulkar and the chances that he has spilled have usually been the 50-50 ones rather than straightforward dollies. I feel Dravid is still good enough to be at second slip - most of his spills have been due to a lack of reaction rather than anticipation. But I won't be averse to having Kohli there either to prepare someone for the future.

He used to field all the time at first slip with Azhar at second. They never exchanged positions.

[pensionplan]

The fact that we have Sachin - himself a very dodgy slipper - at first slip makes it all the more important that we dont have another suspect catcher in the cordon.

You said it and not me. How dare you say something about Sachin the fielder. The first line in the below link will put all that non-sense to rest. http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showpost.php?p=1257243&postcount=57